In a significant development initiative aimed at strengthening infrastructure and supporting livelihoods in coastal communities, the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) a vital project to rehabilitate the fishermen's harbor in the Badahula area, located in the southern part of the Socotra Archipelago. This project is part of a series of humanitarian and development interventions led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support its brothers and sisters in Yemen, particularly in the fisheries sector, which is a lifeline for thousands of families.
Project details and removal of the effects of natural disasters
The implementation of the “Al-Khaysah” project came in response to an urgent need among the area's fishermen, as the site had previously suffered severe damage and geological changes due to natural disasters. Socotra has experienced a series of tropical cyclones and low-pressure systems in recent years, resulting in torrential floods that caused massive amounts of silt and sand to accumulate in the boat moorings.
According to the project's technical specifications, the targeted site covers approximately 12,000 square meters. The program's technical teams successfully removed nearly 25,000 cubic meters of sand and flood debris that had been obstructing boat movement. This engineering work expanded the operational area of the marina, enabling it to accommodate boats safely and smoothly, thus ending the long-standing difficulties fishermen faced in manually loading and unloading their vessels.
Economic and social impact on Socotra society
This project is of strategic importance given the economic nature of Socotra Island, where a large portion of the population relies on fishing as their primary source of income. This initiative directly benefits 240 fishermen who own and operate approximately 80 boats. This support positively impacts the livelihoods of some 1,440 individuals from these fishermen's families, thereby enhancing food security and economic stability in the southern region of the archipelago.
The fishermen expressed their immense satisfaction with the reopening and expansion of the fishing port, emphasizing that the project represents a fundamental solution to the problem of protecting their boats from strong currents that threatened to sweep them away or wreck them, in addition to saving them the arduous physical labor they previously endured. This intervention serves as a model for sustainable development that goes beyond simply providing material assistance, working instead to rehabilitate the productive infrastructure to empower the community to work and produce.
The role of the Saudi program in comprehensive development
The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) extends beyond this project to encompass several vital sectors, including health, education, energy, water, transportation, and roads. The Socotra projects are part of a comprehensive vision aimed at improving basic services and enhancing infrastructure in liberated Yemeni governorates, thereby contributing to development and achieving economic and social stability throughout Yemen.
